cted his
prayers to Heaven to assist him, then drew his own cimeter, and firmly
awaited his approach. The monster, despising so inconsiderable an enemy,
called to him to submit without fighting. Codadad by his conduct shewed
that he was resolved to defend his life; for rushing upon the black, he
wounded him on the knee. The monster, feeling himself wounded, uttered
such a dreadful yell as made all the plain resound. He grew furious and
foamed with rage, and raising himself on his stirrups, made at Codadad
with his dreadful cimeter. The blow was so violent, that it would have
put an end to the young prince, had not he avoided it by a sudden
spring. The cimeter made a horrible hissing in the air: but, before the
black could have time to make a second blow, Codadad struck him on his
right arm with such force that he cut it off. The dreadful cimeter fell
with the hand that held it, and the black, yielding under the violence
of the stroke, lost his stirrups, and made the earth shake with the
weight of his fall. The prince alighted at the same time, and cut off
his enemy's head. Just then the lady, who had been a spectator of the
combat, and was still offering up her earnest prayers to Heaven for the
young hero, uttered a shriek of joy, and said to Codadad: "Prince and
Deliverer, finish the work you have begun; the black has the keys of
this castle, take them and deliver me out of prison."

The prince searched the wretch as he lay stretched on the ground, and
found several keys. He opened the first door, and entered a court, where
he saw the lady coming to meet him; she would have cast herself at his
feet, the better to express her gratitude, but he would not permit her.
She commended his valour, and extolled him above all the heroes in the
world. He returned her compliments; and she appeared still more lovely
to him near, than she had done at a distance. I know not whether she
felt more joy at being delivered from the desperate danger she had been
in, than he for having done so considerable a service to so beautiful a
person.

Their conversation was interrupted by dismal cries and groans. "What do
I hear?" said Codadad; "whence come these miserable lamentations, which
pierce my ears?" "My lord," said the lady, pointing to a little door in
the court, "they come from thence. There are I know not how many
wretched persons whom fate has thrown into the hands of the black. They
are all chained, and the monster drew out one every